Hate crime charges have been dropped against Michael Cassidy, a veteran who destroyed a satanic statue that was on display outside the Iowa state Capitol Building, as part of a plea deal.
Cassidy, who was narrowly defeated in a congressional primary against U.S. Rep. Michael Guest (R-MS) in 2022, pleaded guilty Friday to a reduced charge. In exchange, prosecutors dropped the felony hate crime charge he was facing.
The former congressional candidate was set to go on trial on June 3, though his attorney filed a guilty plea on his behalf to an aggravated misdemeanor count of third-degree criminal mischief, the Des Moines Register reported. Cassidy admitted in writing that he “partially dismantled a display in the Iowa State Capitol Building, without a right/license to do so,” adding that the damage was greater than $750.
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The statue was a display of the demonic, horned deity Baphomet, which was brought to the Iowa State Capitol as a result of an effort from the Satanic Temple. The group has frequently sought to bring satanic statues to state Capitols, arguing that it should be allowed under religious freedom principles.
On December 14, the